Granted Patent B2

US 12,319,506 · App. 18/595,268 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Inventor: John G. Lert, Jr. (Wakefield, MA)

Assignee: Symbotic LLC

B65G1/1373B65G1/0492B65G1/137B66F9/063G05B19/41895G06Q10/087G06Q20/12G06Q30/06G06Q30/0617G06Q30/0633G06Q30/0635G06Q30/0641G06Q30/0643G06K7/1413

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A combination store, comprising:

an automated fulfillment system at a level of the combination store, the automated fulfillment system configured to receive an order of one or more goods selected by a customer or customer proxy, the automated fulfillment system comprising:

a storage structure comprising a plurality of rack structures separated by aisles and having a plurality of storage levels, the storage structure configured to store a plurality of totes; and

at least one mobile robot configured to store and retrieve totes from the storage structure, wherein the at least one mobile robot picks one or more totes with the one or more goods for delivery to a pickup station of the combination store for pickup by the customer or customer proxy; and

a shopping section at another level of the combination store above or below the level having the automated fulfillment system, wherein the shopping section presents additional goods to the customer or customer proxy for picking for purchase.

2. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the automated fulfillment system stores totes containing fungible goods and the additional goods in the shopping section comprise non-fungible goods.

3. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the shopping section includes storage containers for containing the additional goods.

4. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the shopping section further comprises physical displays of the one or more goods stored in the automated fulfillment system that include scannable codes.

5. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the shopping section comprises one or more of a shopping carts, shopping totes, hand-held shopping terminals, or checkout kiosks.

6. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the shopping section includes one or more screens for displaying images of goods stored in the automated fulfillment system.

7. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein a mobile robot propels itself horizontally and vertically throughout the storage structure, placing totes into the storage structure, removing totes from the storage structure, and transporting totes.

8. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the automated fulfillment system includes temperature zones for storing goods with different temperature requirements.

9. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the shopping section is on a ground level of the combination store and the automated fulfillment system is above the shopping section.

10. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the automated fulfillment system is on a ground level of the combination store and the shopping section is above the automated fulfillment system.

11. The combination store of claim 1 , wherein the shopping section includes one or more terminals for receiving customer selection of goods stored in the automated fulfillment system to add to the order.

12. The combination store of claim 11 , wherein the one or more terminals comprises a portable scanning device or fixed touch screens.

13. The combination store of claim 11 , wherein the one or more terminals are configured to communicate the selection of goods to add to the order to the automated fulfillment system.

14. The combination store of claim 11 , wherein the one or more terminals includes payment kiosks configured to receive payment for the goods added to the order.

15. The combination store of claim 1 , further comprising a drop-off station configured to receive goods picked by the customer or customer proxy from the shopping section.

16. The combination store of claim 15 , wherein:

the drop-off station comprises an assessment tool configured to identify the goods picked by the customer or customer proxy;

the assessment tool comprises a scale for determining weight; and

the assessment tool comprises an optical scanner for reading images, labels or codes.

17. The combination store of claim 15 , wherein the automated fulfillment system is configured to consolidate goods from picked from the automated fulfillment system with goods received at the drop-off station to form a delivery bundle and deliver the delivery bundle to the pickup station for pick up.

18. The combination store of claim 15 , wherein the drop-off station is in the shopping section.

Assignments (7)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (400)